UCI Health chief medical information officer co-authors AI position paper
American College of Physicians publication shares recommendations for use of artificial intelligence when giving care
Orange, Calif. — As artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are developed and adopted for use in the healthcare setting, clinicians are cautiously optimistic about their potential.
UCI Health Chief Medical Information Officer and Vice President of Clinical Informatics Dr. Deepti Pandita has co-authored a position paper by the American College of Physicians. “Artificial intelligence in the provision of health care: An American College of Physicians policy position paper” clarifies the organization’s position on the technologies and provides recommendations for their use when giving care.
Benefits and risks
Among the many considerations for clinicians when adopting AI- and ML-enabled tools involve patient privacy, centeredness, safety and transparency.
“Although AI tools can transform the practice of medicine in many beneficial ways, clinical decision support based on AI output without a basic understanding of AI technology can have serious, even fatal consequences for patients,” the authors note.
More research is needed into the clinical and ethical implications of using such technologies, as well as their impact on patient health and thriving, according to the paper’s authors.
“Comprehensive educational resources are necessary to help clinicians, both in practice and in training, navigate this rapidly evolving area of technology.”
The paper’s authors ultimately see the potential for AI to benefit patients and clinicians, but it is too young to speak to its implications.
AI at UCI Health
UCI has made a commitment to the understanding the potential of AI and ML in the patient setting.
In 2018, the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostic Medicine was launched by Dr. Peter Chang and Dr. Daniel Chow. The center is participating in a number of studies, including a five-year project to evaluate AI-based tools and how they impact stroke triage, treatment and clinical outcomes.
In 2022, UCI further invested in the AI future by launching the Institute for Precision Health to improve healthcare through the use of data and machine learning. At UCI Medical Center, AI has been integrated into the electronic medical record system to reduce the burden of documentation for clinicians and clinical support teams. The integration has saved as much as 40 minutes per patient.
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About UCI Health
UCI Health is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, and the only academic health system in Orange County. Patients can access UCI Health at primary and specialty care offices across Orange County and at its main campus, UCI Medical Center in Orange, Calif. The 459-bed, acute care hospital, listed among America’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years, provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation services. UCI Medical Center is home to Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.